A WEEKLY REVIEW: The Good The Bad The Ugly

The GOOD and BAD centres around Peter V’Landys and Racing New South Wales while the UGLY is Sir Delius with undertones of the sensational Tulloch withdrawal from the Melbourne Cup.

Obviously Saturday’s The Everest at Royal Randwick, a dazzling promotion and vitality producing event for Sydney racing when it needs it most was due to the V’Landys innovation, built on the foundation of an idea submitted by the effervescent John Rouse, the former Australian Jockey Club General Manager.

V’Landys insisted on the name as well as the distance and this year with world champion Ka Ying Rising, from Hong Kong, produced the best chapter before a record crowd of 50,167 with more youthful faces, under 30’s, than ever before.

Ka Ying Rising made it great. Without taking anything away from the success, the opposition was disappointing: only four lengths separating the 12 starters, significant of “form beware”. The time, too, was hardly flash, 1.8.13.

Before the $20 million dash I figured it would be the strongest ever due to the depth of local talent. It didn’t transpire. Maybe Joliestar, Angel Capitol, Lady Shenandoah, Briasa and War Machine are not going to develop as anticipated. Tempted is a three-year-old and should improve.

Ridden upside down Jimmystar, being pushed early, showed his worth. Ethan Brown adapted to the tempo but he is better coming with a late burst. Overpass ran out of skin but how good is he?

KYI is being mentioned in the Black Caviar calibre. Saturday’s opposition didn’t compare with Hay List, the topliner Black Caviar overwhelmed.

With KYI topping, supported by Joe Pride’s Ceolwulf in the King Charles 111 Stakes, it was a program to remember. Many racegoers were the youngest I’ve seen at Randwick or any other race meeting for that matter. I spoke to a few first timers at Randwick, the venue being responsible for another record: the length of dunny queues, a situation vastly inferior to Flemington. It caters for nearly twice as many with a more comfortable transition.

Otherwise, the ATC, under siege from V’Landys, should be satisfied with Saturday’s result. No doubt the split remains with Julia Ritchie being “booted off” from the luxury boat by Racing NSW on Sydney Harbour last week for the barrier draw.

A great contributor to the Sydney turf, being a director the Australian Jockey Club and Australian Turf Club, a racehorse owner for decades, Ritchie was a playmaker against the Rosehill sale.

Ritchie did not receive an official invitation but was on a guest ticket of one who was. Being reversed on the plank had no class. It was petty for which Racing NSW is noted for, but certainly wasn’t the situation when the Sydney Turf Club hosted a Harbour Cruise for the Golden Slipper in the good old days.

The champagne flowed. Wise guys were more concerned about euchre than the scenery. Partnering “Doc” Chapman, then a racehorse trainer who paid his way through university at cards, against the AJC’s Big Jack Ingham and Don Storey, of the STC, and staying well clear of John Holloway, was a sure way of getting exes for the week.

Females were welcome. It could be opined that Ritchie ended up better than the one who had a mishap at a fountain after departing the vessel.

Often the AJC and STC were at loggerheads but nobody was barred, the case with Sir Delius on veterinary grounds, from the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup. “Outrageous” was the cry from stable insiders.

Prepared by Gai Waterhouse and Adriann Bott, Sir Delius promised to be the best horse of the season and hot favourite in the Big One. Saturday’s Caulfield Cup was hardly scintillating.

Waterhouse is the daughter of Tommy Smith who trained champion Tulloch in 1957, the centre of one of the most sensational Melbourne Cup scratchings.

A three-year-old and hot favourite, public opinion was spiced by newspaper owner Ezra Norton, who had the eventual winner, Straight Draw, that the Flemington two miles was too demanding for a colt so young.

It was maintained the owner “Boss” Haley scratched Tulloch but Smith, who never told me wrong, stressed he withdrew the horse because of the pressure. “They’ll lynch you if anything happens to Tulloch in the Cup,” Smith was advised. Smith had the two Tullochs to win the Caulfield-Melbourne Cups double going for a fortune.

Legal action against Racing Victoria has been mooted regarding the Sir Delius decision. Sir Delius is no Tulloch. Still many stayers with similar issues have probably won the Melbourne Cup. But racing is at a very tender stage and cannot afford another Melbourne Cup disaster.

Hoof Note: Following the spring carnival Ray Thomas is leaving the Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph after 36 years. Rupert Murdoch would not have enough money if he paid him a dollar a word for what he has produced. No journalist has written more racing, even greats who spanned long periods like Bert Lillye and Jack Elliott.